How did the Boeing crash mysteriously and why it only carried 5 people?

The aircraft was operated by K2 Airways Cargo and had disappeared yesterday during a flight between Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, and Karachi, in Pakistan. The plane disappeared into the ocean shortly before its scheduled landing in Karachi and lost contact with air traffic control after reporting a problem with the navigation system.

The Boeing 737-400 freighter was the only plane in the K2 Airways fleet. According to Al Jazeera, the aircraft was 27 years old and had originally been delivered to Aeroflot, from Russia, before passing through other operators and being converted to transport cargo. The plane entered service with K2 Airways in 2024.

In a cargo plane, the interior is completely adapted for transporting goods. Unlike commercial aircraft, it has a single aisle, reinforced main floor and a large side door for loading pallets and containers. It flies with the same engines and systems as a common commercial plane, but prioritizes weight and cargo volume.

The crew is minimal, usually 3 to 5 people. According to the FAA (US civil aviation regulatory agency), this restricted number occurs because freighters operate without flight attendants, passenger seats or side windows. A highly reinforced safety barrier is also installed just behind the cockpit to protect pilots from cargo. All space is used to maximize capacity, making the plane lighter and more economical.

The original version of the Boeing 737-400 carried between 146 and 168 people in its normal configuration. The version transformed into a cargo plane removes all seats and side windows, gaining capacity for up to 11 large pallets.

The Boeing 737-400 freighter has a range of around 3,700 to 3,850 km with maximum load. This is sufficient for regional and medium routes, such as from Sharjah to Karachi, but does not allow crossing large oceans non-stop.

WHAT THE BOEING 727-400 FREIGHTER IS LIKE

Length: 36.4 meters Wingspan (wing to wing): 28.9 meters Load capacity: approximately 20 tons Internal space: holds up to 11 pallets Range (with maximum load): approximately 3,700 km to 3,850 km

SEARCH FOR CREW MEMBERS CONTINUES

The five crew members have not yet been found. According to the airline, two pilots, two engineers and a support employee were on board. The AP (Associated Press) news agency identified the crew as captain Muhammad Rizwan Idris, co-pilot Faisal Jatoi, engineers Muhammad Hamid and Muhammad Arif Siddiqui, and loader Muhammad Taufiq Khan.

The wreckage of the plane was located 53 nautical miles, about 98 km, south of the port of Ormara. The information was released by PAA (Pakistan Airports Authority), according to Reuters. The search operation mobilizes the Pakistan Navy, the Maritime Security Agency and civilian teams.

Teams located parts of the aircraft at sea, but the main structure may still be in deep water. According to the AP, the depth in the region could reach around 3,000 meters, and sea currents may have moved the wreckage.

Preliminary data indicated sudden changes in altitude before the disappearance. According to Flightradar24, the plane lost around 1,500 meters in less than a minute, climbed back to around 1,800 meters in 30 seconds and then entered a steep descent. The last data transmitted indicated an altitude of about 335 meters and descent at 22,400 feet (6,800 meters) per minute.

The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. K2 Airways stated that it cooperates with the authorities. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, ordered the intensification of the search and expressed solidarity with the families of the crew.

If deaths are confirmed, this will be the first fatal plane crash in Pakistan since 2020. That year, a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed during an attempted landing in Karachi, leaving 97 dead.

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